The Highest Court in the United Kingdom annuls the endorsement of fresh coal mining operations.
The United Kingdom's top court has reversed the approval for a fresh coal mining operation. The court stated that the belief that the proposed mine wouldn't lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions (...) is legally inaccurate, granting an appeal from environmental organizations. The mining venture in the northwestern English region of Cumbria would've been the first coal mine to start operations in the country in three decades.
The outgoing Conservative British administration had endorsed the project. Nevertheless, the emerging Labour government had expressed its intention to not back it.
Niall Toru, the main lawyer for Friends of the Earth, praised the decision as "terrific news and a major victory". He asserted that the mine shouldn't have been approved initially as it would've had significant impacts on the climate. He encouraged West Cumbria Mining (WCM) to withdraw its application and abandon the project.
WCM's legal team had defended the mine, claiming that it would carry a "predominantly neutral impact on global greenhouse gas emissions". Judge David Holgate, however, firmly disagreed with this claim.
The United Kingdom's new Labour government expressly stated its disapproval of the coal mining project in Cumbria. Due to this court decision, West Cumbria Mining may need to reconsider its application for the mine in The United Kingdom.
